Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Florida mom films 10-year-old autistic son's arrest at school. Then he spent the night in jail.



Florida mom films 10-year-old autistic son's arrest at school. Then he spent the night in jail.
By Teresa Welch, Miami Herald
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 5:15pm
A Florida mother filmed the arrest of her 10-year-old son as school resource deputies handcuffed him and took him away.

The boy, who has autism, is accused of battery of a school employee in Okeechobee County because he kicked a teacher last November. The offense is a third-degree felony.

His mother Luanne Haygood said her son shouldn't have been arrested.

"It was because of his autism that spurred this incident," Haygood told WPTV. "And he was arrested for that."

In the video, which Haygood recorded on her cell phone, her son John Benji Haygood is heard as officers place handcuffs on his wrists.

"I don't want to be touched. Please don't touch me," the boy says in the video. "I don't know what's going on."

Not wanting to be touched can be a symptom of autism, according to Autism Speaks.

Haygood said watching her son be cuffed and put in a law enforcement vehicle "broke her heart." She said the 10-year-old boy then spent the night at a juvenile facility in Fort Pierce.

Although the incident took place last year, deputies said they couldn't serve the arrest paperwork until last week.

Haygood said her son had prior behavioral issues because of his autism, but said that there needs to be a different way to deal with him.

"Unfortunately, instead of treating or accommodating we arrest because we don't know what else to do," Haygood said.

The sheriff's office and prosecutors told WWLP that they weren't aware the 10-year-old had autism, and the state attorney said it will be taken into consideration as they look at the case.
A Florida mother recorded video of her 10-year-old autistic son being arrested for kicking a school employee. Miami Herald photo.

Teachers
Rhonda Weingarten was the president of the United Federation of Teachers, is the president of the American Federation of Teachers, and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Note: Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Andrew Robertson is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a director at Autism Speaks.
Tom Brokaw is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and was an anchor for the NBC Nightly News.
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Jeff Zucker was an executive producer for the NBC Nightly News, the president & CEO for NBCUniversal, and is married to Caryn N. Zucker.
Robert C. Wright was the chairman for NBCUniversal, and is a co-founder for Autism Speaks.
Tommy Hilfiger Group is a director at Autism Speaks.
Tommy Hilfiger is the founder of the Tommy Hilfiger Group, and was a director at the Fresh Air Fund.
Caryn N. Zucker was a director at the Fresh Air Fund, and is married to Jeff Zucker.
Jeff Zucker is married to Caryn N. Zucker, was an executive producer for the NBC Nightly News, and the president & CEO for NBCUniversal.
Robert C. Wright was the chairman for NBCUniversal, married to Suzanne W. Wright, and is a co-founder for Autism Speaks.
Suzanne W. Wright was married to Robert C. Wright, and a co-founder for Autism Speaks.
Tom Brokaw was an anchor for the NBC Nightly News, and is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.
Andrew Robertson is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a director at Autism Speaks.
Rhonda Weingarten is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, and was the president of the United Federation of Teachers.

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